Mining machine



Nov. 30, 1937. 1 E. SIMMONS MINING MACHINE Filed sept. 1s, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Eng.

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MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. l5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 CTI Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,100,361 MINING MACHINE Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts mining machines pillar, floor cutter An object of In the :accomp Leon E Application September 13, 1935, Serial No.

Fig. 1 is a plan having embodied of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear end elev mining machine shown in Fig. 3 is a sid mining machine side thereof.

Fig. 4 is a plan Fig. 1

Claims.

anying drawings there are ational view of the e elevational Vview of the coal as Viewed View and jack structure.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentar of the mining machine as viewe ceding side there from the advancing of the improved skid plate y side elevational View d freni the re- Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 1 7 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary Views similar to Figs. 6 and 7 showing a modified form of construction.

In this illustrative construction both forms of the invention are shown embodied in a coal mining machine of the exibly fed, room and pillar,

to the cable guiding means.

The machine, as is common in room and pillar machines, has a machine frame I mounted on a A coal cutting machine of the room and pillar type, during the cutting operation, is usually fed over the mine oor and guided during its feeding movement by means of feeding and guiding cables l and 8 wound on feeding and guiding drums 9 and l0, respectively, likewise driven by the motor 6, thereby to move the cutter bar transversely across the coal face to cut a substantially horizontal kerf. During the cutting operation, the mining machine must often over an undulating mine iioor or so-called rolling bottom, and under such conditions it is desirable to provide means for tilting the kerf cutter to vary its angle in altitude, thereby to compensate for the unevenness of the mine floor. The feeding cable is adapted to be fastened to a suitable anchor jack Il located near the coal face at the rib, while the guiding cable 8 is fastened to an anchor jack I2 located at the opposite rib, and as the cables are wound in the machine is fed across the coal face un- .der the `control of the guiding druml. Ar-

ranged at the opposite front corners of the miachine are guide sheaves I3, I3, and at the rearward end of the machine are guide sheaves I4, I4 and I5, I5, while mounted on the opposite sides of the machine are guide sheaves l5, and the feeding and guiding cables .are adapted to be extended in various directions about these guide sheaves to effect feeding and maneuvering of the machine in the manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

Now referring to the improved bottom shoe structure, it will be noted that extending longitudinally of the machine is a centrally loshoe 20 relatively narrow in width, the sides and bottom of the bottom shoe structure being laterally cut away at 2l to form the shoe. The narrow shoe 20 is formed integral with the machine frame by means of transverse connecting shoe portions 22, 23 rigidly fixed to the machine frame at the opposite ends of the latter. The rearward portion of the cutter bar 4 lies directly above the relatively narrow shoe 20, the shoe being of substantially the same width as the cutter bar, as shown in Fig. 5, and the cutter bar is rigidly secured within the machine frame by means of a block 24 projecting through a slot in the bar and rigidly bolted to the machine frame. When the mining machine is cutting from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the cut-away portion 2l at the side and bottom or the bottom shoe structure a. the receding side of the machine forms an elongated opening through which the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the cutter chain are expelled from the machine as the machine moves laterally over the mine oor. It will be noted that by cutting away the skid bottom as well as the side, the cuttings are discharged from the machine directly onto the mine oor, and the inner end wall of the opening formed by the front transverse portion 22 of the skid acts to impede movement of cuttings back into the kerf; and of course, as the machine is fed laterally the cuttings on the oor are left behind.

There is shown in Fig. 4 an adjustable skid jack structure comprising a bottom skid plate 25 having a smooth bottom surface adapted to slidably engage the mine floor and having pivotally connected thereto at 2G a vertical plate 2l. Also pivotally mounted on the skid plate at 28 are jacks 29 each having a hook-shaped portion 30 projecting through slots in the vertical plate, and when the vertical plate is placed against the forward advancing side of the machine frame, these hook-shaped portions are adapted to interlock with the vertical side of the bottom shoe structure in the manner shown in Fig. 5. The jacks 29 are hydraulic type comprising a frame 3| having secured thereto a piston 32v contained in a cylinder 33 with which the hook-shaped portions 3l) are integrally formed. Mounted on the frame 3i is a pump 34 having an operating lever 35. When the pump 34 is actuated by the lever 35, hydraulic pressure may be supplied to the cylinder 33 to effect reciprocation thereof with respect to the piston 32, thereby to raise the machine frame of the mining machine into the tilted position shown in Fig. 2 with the advancing side of the machine raised from the mine floor. The skid plate 25 is formed to t substantially within the cutaway portion 2I at the advancing side of the machine so that when the machine is in its lowered position, as shown in Fig. 5, the bottom surface of the skid plate is substantially ilush operating in an opposite with the bottom surface of the sliding shoe 20. By operating one or the other of the jacks 29, the machine may also be tilted in an endwise direction about a transverse axis to move the tip end of the cutter bar either upwardly or downwardly as desired so that when the machine moves over an undulating mine hoor, the cutter bar may be tilted to maintain the cutter bar substantially horizontal during the transverse cutting operation. By operating these jacks the cutter bar may also be tilted to cut around obstructions in the coal. When the machine is direction, that is from right to left as viewed in Fig. 1, the jack structure may be detached from the then receding side of the machine and re-attached to the opposite side of the machine so that the advancing edge of the machine frame may be raised from the mine floor during cutting in the opposite direction, and at this time the opening 2l at the opposite side of the machine provides a cuttings discharge opening for facilitating expulsion of the cuttings as the machine moves laterally over the mine floor.

In the modied form of construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the lower portion of the bottom shoe structure is cut away or slotted at 31 at a plurality of points along the length of the shoe structure, thereby to provide baffle-like strips 38 having spaced vertical portions 39. The bottom Skid plate in this form of the invention may underlie the strips 38, or, if desired, may be formed with slots to receive the strips, thereby to provide skid portions projecting between the strips as baffle means during the transverse cutting operation so as to impede movement of the cuttings back into the kerf as the machine is advanced across the coal face. The vertical portions 39 of these baflie-like strips also act as safety means for reducing the possibility of injury to the operator, the vertical portions 39 of the strips acting as cutter chain guards. Otherwise this form of the invention is similar to that above described. Y

The mode of operation of the improved mining machine will be clearly apparent from the description given. When the machine is in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the feeding and guiding cables arranged to effect feed of the machine transversely across the coal face from left to right, and the feeding and guiding drums are operated to wind in their respective cables, the machine is fed bodily laterally over the mine iloor. As the cutter chain 5 circulates rapidly about the margin of the cutter bar, the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the cutter chain are in part expelled through the open rear end of the cutter bar chamber 3, while a substantial portion thereof are expelled laterally through the elongated slot 2l at the receding side of the machine. As the machine moves over a rolling or uneven mine floor, the hydraulic jacks 29 may be operated to lift the forward edge of the machine frame from the mine floor so that the machine at that time is supported on the skid plate 25, and as a result, the cutter bar is tilted in a sidewise direction about an axis extending longitudinally of the machine so as to enable the machine to follow an uneven mine floor and to prevent binding of the cutter bar in the kerf. If desired, one or the other of the jacks may be operated to tilt the machine about a transverse axis thereby to move the tip end of the cutter 38. These baille-like strips act bar either upwardlyv or downwardly to further facilitate movement of the machine over an uneven or rolling mine floor. In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and baille-like strips exstantial openings so that the cuttings are readily discharged from the machine as the latter moves laterally over the mine floor. These and other uses and advantages of the invention will be y clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a smooth bottom surface adapted to rest upon and slide over remains resting on the mine oor.

3. In a mining machine, a machine frame havceding side of the the mine oor.

on e to tilt the cutter bar sidewise. mining machine of the character deof baule-like elements for impeding movement of the cuttings back into the kerf.

' 8. In a mining machine of the character described,

at the receding side of the machine being formed with a series of bailelike elements for impeding movement of the cuttings back into the kerf, said baille-like elements also forming guard elements for the cutter chain.

Aa plurality of jack plurality 4 the miner floor, saidA shoe having transverse connecting frames atV the front and rear ends of the machine frame, said transverse connecting frames havingA bottom shoe surfaces cooperating with the bottom surface of said shoe in the supporting of the machine.

Il. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a smooth bottom surface adapted to rest upon and slide over a mine floor, a rigid cutter bar projecting forwardly from said frame, means for feeding the machine bodily laterally over the mine floor during the cutting operation, and devices one at each end of the machine frame for tilting the machine about transverse and longitudinal axes, said jack devices operative to raise the machine frame bottom at the advancing side or one end of the machine to tilt the machine about said longitudinal and transverse axes while the bottom of the machine frame at the receding side or the opposite end of the machine frame remains resting on the mine floor.

12. In a miningV machine of the character described, a bottom shoe structure having its bottom and longitudinal sides transversely slotted to provide a plurality of cuttings discharge openings, said discharge openings separated by a plurality of baffle-like elements for impeding movement of the cuttings back into the kerf.

13. In a mining machine of the character described, a bottom shoe structure having its bottom and longitudinal sides transversely slotted to provide a plurality of cuttings discharge openings, said discharge openings separated by a of baffle-like elements for impeding movement of the cuttings back into the kerf, said baie-lilre elements also forming guard elements for the cutter chain.

14. In a mining machine of the character described, a bottom shoe structure having its bottom and longitudinal sides partially cut away to provide a narrow elongated shoe on which the machine is slidably supported for movement over the mine flooor, the open side of said bottom shoe structure at the receding side of the machine forming an elongated discharge opening for the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the kerf cutter.

l5. In a mining machine of the character described, a bottom shoe structure having its bottom and longitudinal sides partially cut away to provide a narrow elongated shoe portion at the center of the machine frame, and transverse bottom shoe portions extending across the machine at the front and rear ends thereof, said central shoe portion and said transverse shoe portions slidably supporting the machine for movement over the mine floor, the open side of said bottom shoe structure at the receding side of the machine forming an elongated discharge opening for the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the kerf cutter.

16. In a mining machine of the character described, a bottom shoe structure having its bottom and longitudinal sides partially cut away to provide a narrow elongated shoe on which the machine is slidably supported for movement over the mine floor, the open side of said bottom shoe structure at the receding side of the machine forming an elongated discharge opening for the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the kerf cutter, and elevating means insertable in the opening in the bottom shoe structure at the advancing side of the machine for raising the advancing side of the machine to tilt the kerf cutter.

17. In a miningk machine of the character described, a bottom shoe structure having its bottom and longitudinal sides partially cut away to provide a narrow elongated shoe portion at the center of the machine frame and transverse bottom shoe portions extending across the machine at the front and rear ends thereof, said central shoe portion and said transverse shoe portions slidably supporting the machine for movement over the mine floor, the open side of said bottom shoe structure at the receding side of the machine forming an elongated discharge opening for the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the kerf cutter, and elevating means insertable in the opening in the bottom shoe structure between said transverse shoe portions at the advancing Side of the machine for raising the advancing side of the machine to tilt the kerf cutter.

18. In a mining machine of the character described', abottom shoe structure having its bottom and. longitudinal sides cut away to provide a narrow elongated shoe on which the machine is slidably supported for movement over the mine floor, the cut-away side of said bottom shoe structure at the receding side of the machine providing along its length an elongated discharge for the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the kerf cutter, and baffle-like guards for the cutaway sides of said bottom shoe structure.

19. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a smooth bottom surface resting upon andv slidable over the mine oor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, means for feeding the machine bodily over the mine floor during the kerf cutting operation, and jack means extending longitudinally oi the machine in parallelism with the kerf cutter and engageable with the mine floor at the advancing side of the machine, said jack means connected to the machine frame for elevating the forward advancing side of the machine frame bottom olf from the mine floor while the frame bottom at the receding side of the frame remains resting on the mine floor.

20. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a smooth bottom surface resting upon and slidable over the mine floor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, means for feeding the machine bodily over the mine floor during the kerf cutting. operation, and jack means extending longitudinally of and underlying the machine frame, said jack means engageable with the mine oor at the advancing side of the machine and connected to the machine frame for elevating one end of the machine frame bottom oli from the mine floor while the bottom of the machine frame at the opposite end thereof remains in sliding' engagement with the mine floor.

21. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a smooth bottom surface resting upon and slidable over the mine floor, a kerf cutter projecting from said frame, means for feeding the machine bodily over the mine floor during the kerf cutting operation, and jack means engageable with the mine floor at the advancing side of the machine and connected to the machine frame for elevating the forward advancing side of the machine frame bottom oif from the mine oor to tilt the machine about a longitudinal axis while the frame bottom at the receding side of the machine frame remains resting on the mine floor, said jack means being operative to elevate one end of the machine frame bottom off from the mine floor to tilt the machine about a transversev axis while the opposite end of the bottom 2,100,361 of the machine frame remains in sliding engagereceding side of the machine remains resting in ment with the mine floor. sliding engagement with the mine Hoor.

22. In a mining machine, a machine frame 24. In a mining machine, a machine frame vancing side of the machine and slidably engagmachine for tilting the machine about a trans- 10 the machine frame at the receding side of the 25. In a mining machine, a machine frame 15 machine remains resting in sliding engagement having 2 511100611 bottom Surface resting 1113011 with the mine floor, and sliding over a mine floor, a kerf cutter pro- 23. In a mining machine, a machine frame Je l h having a smooth bottom surface resting upon machine bodll? over the mme H001 durmg the said jack means adjustable to elevate the ma- 25 its advancing side is solely supported by said mine floor. 30 bottom skid While the bottom of the frame at the LEON E. SIMMONS. 

